Electrical collector.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

P. AGKERMANE. ELEOTRIOAL COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 19 02.

r/ 14 x W X No. reaaoe.

lll rrn Eatented May 9, 1905.

PETER ACKERMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL COLLECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,402, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed September 4, 1902. Serial No, 122,063.

To a, 1071,0117, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER ACKERMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Collectors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical conductors and guards therefor, and is shown more particularly in relation with a third-rail conductor for electric railways provided with means for guarding or protecting the conductor or rail from accidental contact by employees and also from exposure to rain, snow, or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and durable construction adapted for use either on elevated or surface roads and where the third-rail system is already in use capable of being applied thereto at trifling expense.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the third rail and part of the car-truck, showing the contact-shoe thereon. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the guard. Fig. 4c is an enlarged detail of the means for yieldingly supporting the contact-shoe from the trucks.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates a third-rail conductor secured in the usual manner upon one of the longitudinal stringers A of the track.

B indicates the supporting-beams, secured in the usual or any desired manner upon the trucks and from the middle portion of which is supported the bracket-hanger B, which, as shown, is rigidly bolted or otherwise rigidly secured near the middle of said beam. Said bracket-hanger is provided longitudinally of the beam with two divergent arms 6 7/. Each of said arms is provided near 1ts end with a downwardly and inwardly directed aperture, as shown more fully in Fig. 4-, countersunk at the outer and inner ends. A link I) engages in each of said apertures, and the inner ends thereof converge below said bracket. As shown, said links each consist of a rod provided on its outer end with a head Z), which is seated in the enlarged outer end of said aperture in the bracket-arm. The inner end of each link is flattened to pass between the knuckles of the shoe B and apertured to receive the bolt by which the same is secured thereto. Said shoe may be constructed of any desired conducting material and is inclined upwardly at the ends in the usual manner. The knuckles U 71", between which the link is pivoted, are located near the rear margin of the shoe, and the shoe is made considerably wider than has heretofore been the practice, thereby providing a broad flat contact-surface projecting laterally from the car and adapted to project over the conductor-rail, as shown in Fig. 2. A conductor Z1" is connected therewith in the usual manner and leads to any desired form of motor, usually supported on the car-truck, but not herein shown.

The guard, as shown, is supported upon uprights C, rigidly secured to the stringer A, and extend somewhat above the top of the conductor-rail A. On the top of said uprights a continuous covering of plank c or any desired material of a suiiicient width to extend over and entirely cover the conductor-rail is secured. Preferably said guard 11 is so constructed that when desired the same may be turned back,exposing the conductor-rail. For this purpose hinges 0 are provided to form the connection between the upright supports C and the guard c. Said hinges, as shown, are ordinary strap-hinges and are so secured on the supports and guards as to permit the guard when turned back to hang vertically along the supports and when turned inwardly over the rail to form a supporting-stay therefor.

The operation is as follows: l Vhen in use, the guard covering the conductor-rail serves not only to prevent contact therewith by employees or others upon the tracks, but also acts to prevent the accumulation of rain, sleet, or snow on the conductor-rail, thus greatly economizing the current and lessening the dangeror likelihood of accidents. The guard When desired may be turned back into position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, giving ready and convenient access to the rail. The shoe B which projects laterally beyond the bracket B, extends beneath said guard and contacts with said rail, as usual, conducting the current therefrom through the conductor 5* in a familiar manner.

Heretofore the expense from replacing the worn-out links supporting the shoes has been considerable. In the simple construction herein shown the links are very cheaply constructed and great freedom of movement is permitted with little Wear, thus economizing both in construction and repair.

Obviously many details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a device of the class described the combination with a bracket-hanger provided with countersunk apertures on the ends thereof, of a shoe movably engaged in said apertures.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a bracket-hanger provided with countersunk apertures therethrough of a contact-shoe loosely engaged in said apertures and provided with a broad contact-surface extending laterally from said brackethanger.

3. In a device of the class described the combination with a bracket-hanger provided with an aperture through each end thereof, said aperture being countersunk at each end, of a contact-shoe and means thereon slidably engaged in said apertures adapted to support the shoe.

I. In a device of the class described the combination with a bracket-hanger provided with apertures through the ends thereof, said apertures being countersunk at each end to provide rounded bearing-shoulders, a contactshoe and a headed link pivoted at each end thereof and slidably engaged in said apertures.

5. In a device of the class described the combination with a beam adapted to be engaged beneath acar, of a bracket thereon provided with laterally-directed arms each having a countersunk aperture therethrough. a shoe vertically movable beneath said brackets, a link pivoted on each end of said shoe and provided with a head adapted to engage in said apertures.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER ACKERLWIANN.

\Vitnesses:

ANNA B. HILLs. A. O. ODELL. 

